VANCOUVER — On May 2, 2026, eight community pharmacists were awarded at the BC Pharmacy Association's annual awards gala, held at The Westin Bayshore hotel in downtown Vancouver.
These pharmacists represent the best qualities of the profession, and are selected based on their impact to patient care, their communities, their innovation, and their dedication to helping peers grow.
This year's award winners come from communities all over British Columbia, including Cumberland, Gibsons, Salmon Arm, Victoria, Burnaby, Langley and Vancouver.
2026 Pharmacy Excellence Award winners
Cumberland:
Kerri Moskal, owner, pharmacist and women's hormone consultant at Pharmasave #1015, is the recipient of the Excellence in Patient Care Award for her relentless pursuit to improve access to women's hormone health. Read more about Kerri.
Gibsons:
Pharmacist Atsushi Sato, pharmacy manager at London Drugs #61, is the recipient of the Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding community service. Read more about Atsushi.
Salmon Arm:
Akarsha Bhat Mairaje, owner and pharmacy manager of Shuswap Valley Pharmacy, has changed how people in his community see health care, barely a year after opening his store. He is the recipient of the Collaborative Care Award. Read more about Akarsha.
Victoria:
UVic Campus Pharmacy's Joe Frketic, manager of the location, is the recipient of the Pharmacy Leadership Award for helping make the location into one of his group's top performers. He's doing this while helping young adults access health care for the first time. Read more about Joe.
Burnaby:
For the past 20 years at her Hastings Street pharmacy, Bernice Lam has mentored countless students, whether from the local high school or those in the early stages of post-secondary education. The pharmacy manager of Pharmasave #278 is the winner of the Murray Dykeman Mentorship Award. Read more about Bernice.
Langley:
Not only is Shenaz Lakhani an Associate Owner of three Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies, she is also the regional lead for her company's Women in Leadership for Associate Owners organization, helping hundreds of women grow in their leadership journeys. Shenaz is the second recipient for this year's Pharmacy Leadership Award. Read more about Shenaz.
Vancouver:
Just three years after graduating, Thao Dao has already risen to the position of Store Operator at Pharmasave #010 in downtown Vancouver. She is the recipient of this year's New Practitioner Award. Read more about Thao.
Vancouver:
Recognizing that the majority of opioid substance users are now inhaling the drugs rather than injecting, pharmacist Amin Janmohamed set out to find a safer alternative for those who inhale their drugs. Amin is the recipient of this year's Ben Gant Innovative Practice Award. Read more about Amin.